Combined sink and drainboard



March 19, 1940.

M. WEXLER COMBINED SINK AND DRAINBOARD Filed Dec. 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 19, 1940. M W ER 2,194,343

COIBIIED SINK AND DRAINBOARD Filod Dec. 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Shea} 2 J52 vezi? f orzroe Z. h/exZer Patented Mar. 19, 1940 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SINK AND DRAINBOABD Monroe L. Wexler, Chicago, 111., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application December 8, 1938, Serial No. 244,510

14 Claims.

My invention relates to combined sinks and drainboards and has to do more particularly with an improved arrangement whereby a single drainboard may be shifted to various positions on a sink in order to drain in opposite directions.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a sink having a plurality of sumps and, in combination with such a sink, a drainboard which is shiftable so as to drain alternatively into either of the sumps.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a combination of the type referred to a shiftable drainboard which will adjust itself to a proper level and be free from wobbling, despite warpage or other irregularities in the sink.

A further object is to provide such an arrangement wherein the drainboard may be disposed over either sump at a pitch which will cause it to drain toward the uncovered sump, and at the same time will be prevented from sliding accidentally out'of the desired position.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type referred to which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and generally satisfactory for the purposes desired.

Various other objects and advantages will suggest themselves as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined sink and drainboard embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a part of Fig. 2 but showing a modified form' of my invention, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The numeral l0 represents generally a sink having a plurality of sumps l2 and I3. Such an arrangement is frequently desired, one sump being used for washing dishes or other articles, and the other sump being used for rinsing. Openings may be provided as at ii in a splash panel I6 for various fixtures such as faucets.

A rim 20 extends around both sumps, and in- 0 teriorly of said rim is an approximately horizontal shoulder 22. In this shoulder are depressions 2li25, these depressions being disposed opposite each other in the front and rear portions of the shoulder and between the sumps I2 and it. v The purposes of the depressions 25 will presently appear. S

The drainboard 3|! is in the main disposed in a single plane and may be provided with draining grooves or depressions 32. The drainboard is preferably formed of sheet metal or the like and the marginal portion thereof is flanged over as at 34 all around to provide a finished edge. The side, front and rear flanges are substantially vertical, the front and rear flanges being deformed adjacent the corners, as at 35, to slope outwardly as seen best in Fig. 3. The side flanges of the drainboard are preferably provided with resilient bumpers 36 which are inserted in suitable openings in the flanges 34.

Mounted on the sloping portions 35 of the flange 34 in the front and rear of the drainboard is a pair of rollers 40. These rollers are preferably formed of resilient material such as rubber or the like which will not mar the enamel sur face of the drainboard, and the roller preferably has a convex face, as seen best in Fig. 3, and its axis is disposed at approximately. 35 from the horizontal in order that it may adjust itself to irregularities in the shoulder 22. Screws l2 arranged in the flange 34 retain bearing members 44 which serve to journal 2. female bearing 45 to which the roller 40 may be molded.

In the operation of the device, it will be readily understood that when the drainboard is arranged in the position shown in'Fig. 1, covering the left hand sump, the rollers at the right hand end of the drainboard rest in the depressions 25 in the front and rear portions of the shoulder 22 of the sink, while the front and rear rollers at the left hand end of the drainboard lie on the main level of the shoulder 22, thus giving the drainboard a downward slant to the right. When it is desired to shift the drainboard to cover the sump l2, the right hand rollers are raised out of the depressions 25 and. the drainboard is slid along on the rollers until the left hand rollers .drop into the depressions 25. In. this position, the drainboard will cover the sump i2 and will have a downward tilt to the left. It will thus be apparent that the drainboard can be shifted to alternative positions so that it may drain into either sump by a simple and convenient sliding movement. On the other hand, if it is desired to remove the drainboard completely for cleaning, it is necessary merely to raise it out of the sink.

In the embodiment of drainboard shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in lieu of the rollers shown in the previously described embodiment, bearing members in the form of skids 50 may be provided, these members being formed of rubber or other suitable material which is of such a nature that it will not mar the enamel of the sink. The skids 50 may be secured to flanges 34' of the drainboard 30' by means of angular brackets 52, one leg of which may be welded to the flange 34' as seen in Fig. 5, a stud 53 being molded into the skid 50 and retained by means of a nut 55 or the like. In eithercase, the skids conform to the shoulder 'or ledge of the sink, regardless of whether or not the latter maybe uniform. As is well known in this art, in the baking of vitreous enamel, permanent warpage is frequently caused by the high temperature, and for that reason it would be expected that bearing members arranged ad 'acent the four corners of the drainboard might not all be in engagement with the sink ledge at the same time, especially when the board is moved from one position to another. In such a case, of course, the drainboard would tilt or Wobble, to the annoyance'of the user. However, by means of myinvention, such difliculty is obviated.

Figs. 4 and 5 also show another arrangement within my invention for giving the desired pitch and retaining means for the drainboard. In this case, shoulder 22 slopes down from either end toward the center space between the two sumps. To insure that the drainboard will not slide over to the open sump, stops or protuberances 58 may be provided at the front andrear adjacent this center portion of the shoulder.

Another arrangement for accomplishing this result might be to make the shoulder horizontal and provide elevated members or protuberances remote from the center, so that the end of the drainboard away from the uncovered sump might be raised and drainage toward said sump thus insured.

Various other changes and modifications coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art and hence I do not wish to be limited to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the a will permit.

I claim:

1. In combination, a sink having a pair of sumps and a drainboard adapted alternatively to cover either sump and to drain toward the uncovered sump, said drainboard being slidably.

shiftable from one position to the other.

2. In combination, a sink having a plurality of sumps and having a marginal ledge, said ledge having depressions therein between said sumps, and a drainboard disposed alternatively to cover any one of said sumps and to be slidable on said ledge, said drainboard having supporting means adjacent both ends thereof disposable in said depressions, so that either end of said drainboard may be depressed to impart a tilt thereto, whereby it may cover one sump and drain into an adjacent sump. v

3. In combination, a vitreous enamel sink having a plurality of sumps and having a substantially continuous ledge, said ledge having depressions therein between said sumps, and a drainboard disposed alternatively to cover any one of said sumps and to be slidable on said ledge, bearing devices on said drainboard engageable with said ledge and adapted to drop into said depressions in order to impart a tilt to said drainboard.

4. In combination, a vitreous enamel sink having a sump and a rim adjacent said sump, an. angular portion connecting said rim and said sump, a drainboard slidably shiftable over said sump, and bearing means on said drainboard- 5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein aid bearing means consists of rollers mounted on axes which are oblique to the horizontal.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said angular portion includes a concavely curved surface and said bearing means consists of rollers having the surface substantially conforming to said curve, said rollers being mounted on axes oblique to the horizontal and being formed of a material incapable of marring an enamel surface.

7. A device as defined in claim 4'wherein said angular portion includes a relatively shallow con= cavely curved surface and said bearing means consists of fixed members which substantially conform to said curved surface and are formed of a material incapable of marring enamel.

8. In combination, a sink having a pair of sumps, and-adrainboard adapted alternatively to cover either sump, said, sink having a marginal ledge for supporting said drainboard, and means on said ledge for imparting to said drainboard, when disposed over either sump, a pitch whereby it will drain toward the uncovered sump.

9. In combination, a sink having a pair of sumps, and a drainboard adapted alternatively to cover either sump, said sink having a marginal ledge for supporting said drainboard, and means on said ledge for imparting to said drainboard, when disposed over either sump, a pitch whereby it will drain toward the uncovered sump and for preventing accidental shifting of said drainboard.

10. In combination, a sink having a pair of sumps, and a drainboard adapted alternatively to cover either sump, said sink having a marginal ledge for supporting said drainboard, said ledge being inclined from either end downwardly toward the adjacent sump, whereby the drainboard, when disposed over either sump, will drain toward the uncovered sump.

11. In combination, a sink having a pair of sumps, and a drainboard adapted alternatively to cover either sump, said sink having a marginal ledge for supporting said drainboard, said ledge being inclined from either end. downwardly toward the adjacent. sump, whereby the drainboard, when disposed over either sump, will drain toward the uncovered sump, and means for preventing accidental shifting of said drainboard.

12. In combination, a sink having a pair of sumps, and a drainboard adapted alternatively to cover either sump, said sink having a substansumps, and a drainboard adapted alternatively 'to'cover either sump, said sink having a substantiaily horizontal marginal ledge for supporting said drainboard, and means on said ledge for imparting to said'drainboard, when disposed over either sump, a pitch-whereby'it will-drain toward the uncovered sump and for preventing accidental shifting of saiddrainboard.

14. In combination, a sink having a pair of sumps and'a drainboard adapted alternatively to cover either sump, and cooperating guide and bearing means-on said drainboard and on said sink whereby said. drainboard maybe slidab'ly shifted from one sump to' the other, said sink having meansassociated with each sump for supporting 'the drainboard in positionto-d'rai toward the uncoveredsump. 4 MONROELWEmEB Jj 

